Page 28 - SU AIT Magazine

Save the snakes

Interview Done by Wendy Wuyts

Every now and then, AITians spot a snake (most feared creatures in
AIT) and some run for their lives while others reach for their cameras to

click a nice shot of young fella. We sit down with a wildlife veterinarian
and a PhD candidate in AIT, Rehan-ul-haq, to discuss the obvious

and not-so-obvious threats and benefits posed by these famous but
threatened inhabitants from AIT campus.

1. What motivated you to study snakes and how did
Background of the researcher: Rehan-
ul-haq is a young wildlife researcher you then get research interest in birds?
from Lahore, Pakistan. He started his PhD
in the Natural Resource Management After my Bachelor which was in animal medicines, I worked in a pet clinic
department in AIT. His Masters research and also volunteered in Lahore zoo, where I worked with snakes. I really
in Pakistan was focused on snakes and liked them so much that I decided to do my Master thesis about them.
currently he is studying the factors Although now I am working on birds and known for my bird photography
effecting the bird population in Bung but I am still interested in reptiles, specially snakes.
Bora Phet Wetland in Thailand Birds have more in common with snakes than with mammals. They are
evolved reptiles with wings.

28 SU Magazine: In Harmony